Erving Goffman was a Canadian-American sociologist and writer whose work focused on the study of social interaction, primarily through the concept of dramaturgy Goffman himself described dramaturgy as “the analysis of social interaction in terms of dramatic performance”. He had argued that social interactions in everyday life can be framed within a theatrical metaphor, observing that people often attempt to present themselves in the most favorable light by manipulating the symbolic resources available to them.
Goffman’s body of work has had a profound influence in various fields such as sociology, psychology, communication and social interaction. His study on the presentation of self in everyday life is considered landmark in the field of social theory. Given its far-reaching implication and relevance in a wide range of disciplines, an understanding of Goffman’s work provides excellent fodder for interesting essay topics. Here are five of the best:
1. The Implicit Dramaturgy in the Age of Social Media: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have revolutionized the way people interact and build relationships online.
Exploration of how Goffman’s concept of dramaturgy applies to the use of social media would provide an excellent essay topic. Governed by a different set of rules, users create self-representations and present themselves to others in a selective way.
2. Intersection of Gender and Dramaturgy: Gender is an important factor in shaping the way people interact. While Goffman’s work focused on dramaturgy in general, there has been an increased interest in exploring the ways in which gender roles, behavior and identities influence social interactions.
3. Dramaturgy and the Working Environment: Goffman’s dramaturgical framework has been applied in exploring the social interactions in the working environment. This provides an interesting topic for essays, as it could present different views and interpretations on the imposed roles and behavior in a business setting.
4. The Impact of Technology on Dramaturgy: As technology advances, more and more interactions are taking place in the digital space. This has had a large effect on how people communicate and perform their roles in a social setting.
Essays focusing on how technology has changed the way people interact would be an interesting area of exploration, looking at how technology has altered Goffman's concept of dramaturgy.
5. The Role of Power Structures in Dramaturgy: Goffman’s work emphasized the idea that social interaction is governed by expectations and rules.
Essays exploring the role of power structures in dramaturgy can offer an interesting perspective into the underlying hierarchies driving the way people interact, and how this affects the way they present themselves.